Santorini is a small island with surprisingly varied terrain, and the best of it is away from the caldera cliffs. Quad bikes, known here as ATVs, are the most popular way to explore it off the main roads, and this guided tour is one of the best-reviewed on the island. It starts at Perissa black-sand beach on the south-east coast and follows a mix of paved back roads and dusty off-road tracks inland. The route listed for the tour takes in the Venetian kastelli of Emporio, where there is a half-hour stop to walk through the old fortified village, the windmills of Emporio as a drive-by, the traditional village of Megalochori, a viewpoint in the part of the island known as the Heart of Santorini, and a drive-by of Vlychada beach. In between you ride through vineyards and past farmland, with the basket-trained vines low to the ground in the wind. A new 450 or 550 cc quad is provided, together with a safety briefing, training, a helmet, fuel, third-party insurance and personal accident cover, and professional guides lead the group. A drink stop is included, with a choice of water, coffee or juice or a wine tasting with a snack. The tour lasts about three and a half hours, and free pickup and drop-off from your accommodation is offered, though not from ports or the airport. Groups are capped at sixteen, and passengers of any age may ride behind a driver, which makes this a better choice for adventurous couples and friends than for anyone who wants a gentle ride.
What to know before you go
Drivers must be at least twenty-one years old and bring a physical driving licence, plus a credit card, and the organiser lists two riders per ATV as an option only for an even number of people, never for a single rider. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems, heart conditions or serious medical issues, or for pregnant women. Quad riding on loose gravel is fun but physical, and the roads on Santorini are narrow, so take the briefing seriously and ride at the pace of the guide.
Choosing a departure
There are morning and late-afternoon departures, and the later tour starts earlier in the shoulder months when the days are shorter, so check the exact time and your pickup window when you book. Mornings are cooler and the light on the vineyards is clearer; late-afternoon departures give a softer light for photographs. Bring sunglasses or a pair of closed goggles, because the tracks are dusty, and wear closed shoes and long trousers or a light layer, because the engine and the gravel are both unforgiving on bare legs.
Practical notes
The experience can be cancelled for a full refund up to twenty-four hours before it starts, which is useful because wind and weather affect off-road riding. It combines well with a swim at Perissa afterwards, as the tour begins and ends in the area, and with a relaxed evening back in the caldera, since you will not need the car for the rest of the day. If you would rather drive yourself at your own pace, the island has many rental points, but a guided tour removes the stress of navigation and parking and takes you through places a first-time visitor would never find alone.
What to expect
The experience
A guided quad-bike tour for up to sixteen riders, starting at Perissa and heading inland through Emporio, Megalochori and the Heart of Santorini, with training, safety gear and a drink or wine tasting stop.
Best time
Mornings are cooler; late-afternoon departures have softer light, and the page lists both, so check the start time you are given.
How long
About three and a half hours, plus pickup time from your accommodation.
Tips
Bring your physical driving licence and a credit card, wear closed shoes, and take sunglasses or goggles against the dust.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Active travellers who want to see the quiet south of the island off the main roads.
- Families
- Passengers of any age can ride behind a driver, but drivers must be twenty-one and the ride is bumpy, so it suits teenagers better than small children.
- Couples
- Ride two to a quad if you prefer to share, and finish with a swim or a caldera dinner.
- Pair with
- Perissa beach, Akrotiri or a winery tasting.
- Time needed
- Half a day including pickup.
Good questions
How old do you have to be to drive the ATV?+
Drivers must be at least twenty-one and bring a physical driving licence and a credit card. Passengers have no age restriction.
Where does the tour start?+
At Perissa black-sand beach, with free pickup and drop-off from accommodation offered but not from ports or the airport.
What is included?+
A 450 or 550 cc quad, training, a safety briefing, a helmet, fuel, insurance, and a drink or wine tasting with a snack.
How long does it last?+
About three and a half hours, with stops at Emporio, Megalochori and the Heart of Santorini.
Can I cancel?+
Yes, with a full refund up to twenty-four hours before the experience starts.
